Water leaks from washing machines are among the biggest causes of water damage to houses. Here are some great tips for avoiding the common problems caused by leaking washing machine water damage inside of homes.
The main cause of loss is failure of the water supply. Inspections of cold and hot supply lines to washing machines should be conducted on monthly basis.
- Check for signs of supply hose that are getting close to fail. Blisters in hose, stress cracks, loose connections and worn tubing are some common signs.
- If supply hose shows any signs of wear, replace it with reinforced steel braided hose.
- If the connection feels loose, tighten it. The most common place of failure is close to the connection at which a hose bends.
- The supply hoses should be replaced after 5 years, even in case there are no obvious signs of wear or deterioration. There might be some deterioration signs in the inside out part and you might not be able to see them until the damage has already happened. When replacing the supply hose of a washing machine, always go for the reinforced steel braided hose instead of the un-reinforced hose made from rubber. The steel braided hoses are more durable and they are much less likely to cause washing machine water damage.
You can reduce the chances of failure even further by turning off the valves of cold and hot water supply when the washing machine isn’t in use. In case you are going away for few days, make sure to turn off the valves. Operating a screw type valve is difficult and it can develop leaks around the shaft. In case a valve is leaking or it isn’t operating properly, you should immediately replace it by installing a dual ball valve lever which offers a much better solution. It can make it easier for you to shut off the water supply. It is easier to operate this kind of valve compared to the traditionally used gate valve as it can turn on both the supply of cold and the supply of hot water with a single lever.
In order to minimize the risks of other types of water losses related to washing machine water damage , you should follow the instructions of manufacturer:
- Never overload washing machine.
- Try operating the washing machine when someone is at home.
- Always use the detergent that has been designed for the types of use.
Facts about Failure of Washing Machines
The following are some facts revealed by a multi-region and multi-company study of the insurance claims related to water damage, made by homeowners:
- Failures related to washing machines are among the top ten sources of water damage in residential areas.
- The cost of these failures is $5,308 per incident on average after deductible is paid.
- The supply hose failures account for 50% of all losses related to washing machines.
- Out of all the failures of water supply hoses that result in claims of water loss, about 78% involve the machines that are built less than eleven years ago. And out of these failures, about 54% occur in the washing machines that are built 8 to 10 years ago.
- About 6 percent of all the washing machine related failures happened in unoccupied homes.
The failures that happen in the unoccupied homes result in the claims that are about 2 times more serious than the ones that occur in the occupied homes.